Allard, McNair Profiled

Two more pilots which will be participating in the Ontario Regional Driving Championship Wednesday, March 30 at Western Fair Raceway have been interviewed and profiled by the track

.

The most recent drivers to be interviewed are Doug McNair and Simon Allard.

The ORDC will kick off in Race 5 (approximately 4:50 p.m. post time) and will also include Races 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12. To view entries for Wednesday's card of harness racing, click here. To print off a free program of Western Fair's entire Wednesday card, courtesy of TrackIT, click here.

The eight ORDC reinsmen will be competing for a spot in the National Driving Championship, which will take place on Saturday, May 7 at Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at Charlottetown Driving Park on Prince Edward Island.

The Allard and McNair 'Q&A' interviews appear below, and are followed by more information regarding the ORDC.

Q: What made you decide to get into racing?
I was winning lots of pony races (shorter distance) when I was a kid (trotting bred) in
Quebec and the US (started driving when I was nine); so I decided to make a career out of it.

Q: What would it mean to you to win the Ontario Championship?
It would tell me that I'm as good as anyone.
Q: What size track do you prefer to drive on and why?
Five-eighths – up to a mile track because everyone has a chance even if you have a bad post.

Q: What has been your greatest moment in your career thus far?
My first win – 2005 – Southside Simon.

Q: Who did you idolize growing up?
John Campbell.

Q: If you could drive any horse in history which one would it be?
Somebeachsomewhere, the fastest horse ever.

Q: Where do you see yourself in the sport 10 years from now?
Top five in North America.

Q: Which do you prefer, trotters or pacers?
Pacers for speed.

Q: How would you describe your driving style? A) Laid back B) Front ender C) Rail hugger D) Aggressive throughout E) dead closer?
Aggressive throughout.

Q: Is there one race you would like to win in your driving career?
The Little Brown Jug.

Q: If you could meet any famous person in history who would it be?
Wayne Gretzky
Q: For the lady racing fans out there.....Married? Single? In a relationship?
In a relationship.

Q: What is the strangest thing you've ever eaten?
Spider sushi; I didn't know what it was…..wasn't that bad.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you most like to visit?
Australia.

Q: What made you decide to get into racing?
My family; my dad and my dad's dad have had 30 to 40 years in the business.

Q: What would it mean to you to win the Ontario Championship?
It would be a huge boost to my career.

Q: What size track do you prefer to drive on and why?
It's fun to race on the mile, but I usually race the half-mile tracks, so I like that, too.

Q: What has been the greatest moment in your career thus far?
There have been a lot... definitely winning the Confederation Cup or the Battle of Waterloo when I was only 18.

Q: Who did you idolize growing up?
John Campbell, and of course, my dad.

Q: If you could drive any horse in history which one would it be?
Somebeachsomewhere.

Q: Where do you see yourself in the sport 10 years from now?
I want to be one of the top guys at Woodbine, and a top guy in the Grand Circuit; really the top money driver, that's what it ends up being about.

Q: Which do you prefer, trotters or pacers?
Pacers, because I like to go fast, but a nice, good-gaited trotter is fun to sit behind.

Q: How would you describe your driving style? A) Laid back B) Front ender C) Rail hugger D) Aggressive throughout E) dead closer?
I try to drive the style that the horse needs!

Q: Is there one race you would like to win in your driving career?
The Little Brown Jug.
Q: If you could meet any famous person in history who would it be?
Sidney Crosby or Alex Ovechkin.

Q: Favourite Hockey Team?
Toronto Maple Leafs.

Q: For the lady racing fans out there.....Married? Single? In a relationship?
Single.

Q: What is the strangest thing you've ever eaten?
I've had liver before, that's the strangest thing I can think of ...didn't like it.

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you most like to visit?
Afghanistan...no that doesn't sound right...probably Italy.

The drivers competing in the ORDC are:

• Simon Allard
• Gord Brown
• Scott Coulter
• Trevor Henry
• Jody Jamieson
• John MacDonald
• Doug McNair
• Scott Zeron

Drivers receive points as follows:

(• Finish - Points)
• 1st - 15
• 2nd - 10
• 3rd - 7
• 4th - 5
• 5th - 4
• 6th - 3
• 7th - 2
• 8th - 1

The ORDC had initially been scheduled to take place March 11, but due to adverse winter weather conditions, officials with Western Fair Raceway were forced to cancel its card of live racing which was scheduled for that night.